NAD+ — nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide — is a coenzyme found in every cell of the human body, and its decline with age and chronic stress has been increasingly associated with changes in cellular energy, cognitive function, and recovery capacity. At OC Ketamine Therapy, we have integrated IV vitamin therapy and NAD+ infusions into our practice because we see every day how whole-body cellular support can complement the neurological work our ketamine and TMS patients are doing. Understanding what these infusions actually do — and what they do not do — helps patients make informed, grounded decisions.
The Cellular Science Behind NAD+
NAD+ plays a central role in mitochondrial function, the process by which your cells convert nutrients into usable energy. It is also a critical substrate for enzymes called sirtuins, which regulate cellular repair, inflammation, and gene expression. Research published in journals like Cell Metabolism has shown that NAD+ levels decline significantly from early adulthood onward, and this decline is accelerated by chronic illness, alcohol use, poor sleep, and high physiological stress loads.
When NAD+ is administered intravenously, it bypasses the digestive system entirely and reaches the bloodstream at levels that are more immediate and predictable than oral supplementation. This is an important distinction. While NAD+ precursors like NMN or NR (nicotinamide riboside) taken orally can raise systemic NAD+ levels to some degree, the IV route produces a more immediate and measurable elevation. Patients commonly report a marked shift in mental clarity, energy, and mood within hours of an infusion — not because NAD+ is a stimulant, but because it is restoring cellular processes that had been running below capacity.
At OC Ketamine Therapy, we use NAD+ infusions most often in three populations: patients managing chronic fatigue or post-viral syndromes, individuals in early recovery from alcohol or substance dependence who are seeking neurological restoration, patients experiencing burnout or cognitive fatigue, and patients undergoing a ketamine series who want to support the neuroplastic work their brain is doing. Results vary by individual, and we discuss your specific situation before recommending a protocol. To learn more about how we pair these services with our primary treatments, visit our page on IV Therapy in Orange County, CA.
What IV Vitamin Therapy Offers Beyond NAD+
Our IV vitamin therapy offerings extend beyond NAD+ alone. Depending on your intake assessment, a customized infusion may include high-dose vitamin C, B-complex vitamins (particularly B12 and B6), magnesium, zinc, glutathione, or amino acids. Each of these plays distinct roles in neurological function, immune response, antioxidant defense, and tissue repair.
Glutathione, for example, is the body’s most potent endogenous antioxidant — and oxidative stress has been increasingly implicated in both mood disorders and accelerated cognitive aging. IV glutathione can replenish cellular levels far more effectively than oral forms, which are largely broken down in the gastrointestinal tract before reaching systemic circulation. High-dose IV vitamin C functions similarly — at higher concentrations, it may have different oxidative effects than when taken orally and can support immune function.
We do not position IV vitamin therapy as a treatment for any specific disease, and we are transparent about the evidence base. The strongest research supports IV nutrient therapy for conditions involving clear deficiency states, post-surgical recovery, and as adjunct support during neurological recovery. For patients who are already working hard in other areas of their health — managing a mental health condition, reducing substance dependence, recovering from long COVID — IV vitamins and NAD+ infusions can meaningfully support that work by ensuring the cellular infrastructure is operating as well as possible.
We think of these therapies less as standalone treatments and more as support for the broader work patients are already doing — whether that’s therapy, ketamine, TMS, Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), or lifestyle change. The goal is not to replace those interventions, but to create a physiological environment where they can be more effective. Our blog post on the 7 Benefits of IV Vitamin Therapy: Mental & Physical Wellness explores this in greater depth.
How We Individualize and Build Safe Infusion Protocols
Dr. Dina Seif’s approach to every patient is built around personalization. Before recommending any infusion protocol, we conduct an intake evaluation that covers your health history, current symptoms, medications, and goals. If you are pursuing IV vitamin therapy as a standalone service — not in conjunction with ketamine — we still want to understand your full picture. Certain medical conditions and medications affect how specific nutrients are metabolized, and safe infusion practice means we take that seriously. Safety is central to how we approach all of our services including IV vitamin and NAD+ therapy.
A common barrier to care is uncertainty about whether these infusions are appropriate alongside existing medications or supplements. This is a completely reasonable question, and we welcome it. The honest answer is that for most patients, IV vitamin and NAD+ therapy has an excellent safety profile and interacts minimally with common medications. However, there are specific exceptions — patients on certain chemotherapy agents, those with G6PD deficiency (relevant to high-dose vitamin C), and individuals with specific kidney conditions require modified protocols or may not be appropriate candidates. We identify these situations during your evaluation and always encourage you to explore your options with your provider before beginning any new health intervention. We use medical-grade formulations and dosing protocols, and all infusions are administered under clinical supervision.
NAD+ infusions in particular are known to produce a characteristic experience during administration — some patients feel warmth, a sensation of tightness in the chest, or brief nausea, particularly at higher doses or faster infusion rates. These sensations are transient and resolve quickly, and our team manages infusion rates carefully to minimize discomfort while supporting the overall experience. We also use tools such as the Apollo Neuro wearable and other grounding techniques to enhance ketamine therapy and help patients feel at ease during the infusion.
Why We Incorporate These Services Into a Ketamine Practice
One question we hear often is: why does a ketamine clinic offer IV vitamins? For us, the answer comes directly from our philosophy of care. Dr. Seif founded OC Ketamine Therapy on the belief that the right mindset and support can help any patient transform and heal. For many of our patients, ketamine infusions, Stellate Ganglion Blocks, or TMS Therapy in Orange County represent the central therapeutic intervention — but the brain doing that healing work lives in a body. Supporting mitochondrial function, reducing systemic inflammation, and restoring cellular NAD+ levels creates a physiological environment in which neuroplasticity can be more fully expressed.
We have consistently observed that patients who incorporate NAD+ and nutrient infusions alongside their ketamine series often report better emotional regulation, improved sleep, increased energy, and smoother recovery, along with greater clarity during the integration period. We are careful not to overstate this observation as causative — results vary by individual — but it aligns with what the science of cellular energetics and neuroplasticity would predict.
The second barrier we hear often involves cost. IV nutrient therapies are not covered by most insurance plans, and we believe in transparency about fees upfront. During your consultation, we outline the cost of different infusion types, discuss which combinations are likely to serve your goals, and offer flexibility around scheduling. Our aim is always to make the most meaningful care accessible, not to upsell services that are not relevant to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NAD+ IV therapy actually do for the body?
NAD+ is a coenzyme essential to mitochondrial energy production, cellular repair, and neurological function. IV NAD+ therapy delivers this compound directly into the bloodstream at concentrations not achievable through oral supplements, which can support energy, mental clarity, and recovery from chronic stress or substance dependence. Results vary by individual and depend on your baseline health and what is driving your symptoms.
How long does an NAD+ infusion take, and how will I feel afterward?
NAD+ infusions at OC Ketamine Therapy typically run between two and four hours depending on the dose. During the infusion, some patients feel warmth or mild chest tightness — sensations that are transient and managed by adjusting the infusion rate. Most patients feel a marked increase in energy and mental clarity in the hours and days following treatment.
Is IV vitamin therapy safe if I take daily supplements or prescription medications?
For most patients, IV vitamin therapy has a strong safety profile alongside common supplements and medications. There are specific exceptions — high-dose vitamin C is contraindicated in G6PD deficiency, and some medications interact with certain B vitamins at high doses. We review your full medication and supplement list during intake. Always discuss any new treatment with your prescribing physician as well.
How many infusions will I need to notice a difference?
Many patients notice a meaningful shift in energy and cognitive clarity after a single high-dose NAD+ infusion. For patients using IV therapy to support neurological recovery — from substance dependence, long COVID, or chronic stress — a series of three to five infusions over one to two weeks is a common starting protocol. We individualize recommendations based on your specific goals and response.
Can I combine NAD+ therapy with my ketamine infusion series?
Yes, many of our patients do both. Scheduling typically depends on practical logistics, and we discuss timing during your consultation. Some patients choose to do NAD+ infusions in the week following their ketamine series as a way of supporting the integration window. Others will do concurrent infusions to support recovery between sessions. We work with each patient to build a protocol that makes sense for their situation.
Key Takeaways
- NAD+ is a cellular coenzyme critical to energy production and neurological repair, and its levels decline with age, illness, and chronic stress.
- IV delivery bypasses the digestive system, achieving concentrations not possible with oral supplements — making it especially relevant for patients with significant depletion.
- At OC Ketamine Therapy, IV vitamin and NAD+ therapy is individualized based on a thorough intake evaluation and integrated with our broader ketamine and TMS services.
- Common beneficiaries include patients managing chronic fatigue, individuals in early recovery from substance dependence, and those seeking to support the neuroplasticity window after ketamine treatment.
- Results vary by individual, and we are transparent about the evidence base and costs before any patient commits to a protocol.
We built OC Ketamine Therapy to serve patients who are taking their health seriously and want access to well-administered, science-informed care. Whether IV vitamin therapy is a starting point for you, a complement to ketamine, or something you are simply curious about, we welcome the conversation. Contact us to learn more or schedule a consultation.
References
National Institutes of Health — National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Cell Metabolism Journal. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/home
American College for Advancement in Medicine. https://www.acam.org/
Linus Pauling Institute — Micronutrient Information Center. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/
Buck Institute for Research on Aging. https://www.buckinstitute.org/
About Dr. Dina Seif
Dina Seif, MD, believes that with the right mindset and support, every one of us has the potential to transform and heal our minds. She specializes in creating a personalized plan for each patient and is committed to providing a supportive healing environment for your journey. Dr. Seif is a member of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians and was recognized as a Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association. Dr. Seif has 15+ years of experience with ketamine in the emergency setting and founded one of the first ketamine practices in Orange County in 2019. She has administered thousands of infusions and cared for hundreds of patients from around the world. Dr. Seif is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, where she attended college, medical school, and business school.
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Results vary by individual, and what works for one person may not work for another. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your treatment. OC Ketamine Therapy encourages all patients to discuss their options with a licensed medical professional.